Active shooter scare at NC high school blamed on faulty water heater, officials say

Police responded Friday morning to reports of an active shooter at Topsail High School in eastern North Carolina, but officials later determined a faulty water heater was to blame for the scare, according to local reports.

“There’s no active shooter,” said Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins, reported the StarNews in Wilmington. “It’s a malfunctioning water heater.”

There was a report of an active shooter situation at Topsail High School this morning after noises were heard coming from the top of the building. Law enforcement responded immediately and it has been determined there is no shooter and no weapon. 1/2

WECT reported that officers and deputies from the Topsail Police Department, the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and UNC-Wilmington were at the scene, and the school campus was sealed off.

“All campuses on the eastern side of the county are on lockdown,” Pender Schools tweeted shortly before 8 a.m. “Buses for Topsail Elementary, Topsail Middle, and Topsail High are being staged at Lowe’s Foods across from Topsail Elementary.”